Mooo & Chart House

I spare no expense when it comes to birthday dinners. Usually Adam is pretty easy to please. The last two years he requested steak. I usually suggest the restaurant and he happily obliges.

Last year we dinned at Mooo.... a Modern Steakhouse located at the XV Beacon Hotel. Mooo is chic and sophisticated; with high vaulted ceilings, an elegant bar and dining room bathed in soft white and cream colors and low lighting from large trendy chandeliers hanging overhead.

While it was a year ago, I remember the meal at Mooo like it was yesterday. (Well most of it anyways....) After a lovely hostess seated us and our drinks were served an Amstel Light ($5) for Adam and a Dirty Martini ($11) for myself, we were presented with some of the most exquisite rolls I have ever tasted.
I would probably go back just for these. Four butterballs glistening in the candlelight served piping hot in the iron skillet which they were just baked in. I died and went to heaven with each warm buttery soft bit. A sprinkle of coarse sea salt took them over the top.
My low light setting on the old Sony proved for some grainy photographs. I remember that being a seriously good (and large) dirty martini.
We ordered the Kobe Beef Dumplings ($19) and no Adam did not choose the most expensive appetizer on the menu. These were excellent. (Picture borrowed from Yelp.)
Mooo steaks are served a la carte with roasted garlic and bone marrow butter. I do believe this was my first experience with a true a la carte menu. I learned that it can become quite expensive. For starters the steaks are not cheap. Add your potatoes and vegetable and you've got one pricey dinner on your hands. Adam ordered the 12 oz Filet Mignon ($39) and a small side of Whipped Yukon Gold Potatoes ($5).
I ordered the Steak Frites ($29). The second new experience for me this evening - smothering the marrow butter straight from the bone onto my perfectly cooked tender juicy steak. The Truffled Parmesan Fries were insanely good.
Not a trace of vegetables in sight. Apparently we decided to forgo the a la carte greens this evening, in favor of dessert perhaps? I don't have a picture and unfortunately I remember nothing about the Ice Cream Sandwich ($10). The only reason I remember we ordered it is because I scrap-booked the receipt.
Our server (ah yes Jason M.) well I don't remember too much about him either. I'm sure he was just excellent as I have the other half of this receipt documenting his tip! After reliving the experience and remembering how good our meal was, I now need a good excuse to re-visit Mooo.

Happy 32nd!

Adam was elated at my suggestion to dine at the Chart House for his 33rd birthday dinner this year. The restaurant often generated conversation on our walks around Long Wharf, stemming intrigue on both our parts.
Just what is this place all about, we wondered? First off all - I had no idea (until I just now hit up the website) that the Chart House is a chain! They have locations in Hilton Head and Las Vegas. I knew there was something fishy about the logo on the awning. I just knew it. The yellow fish seemed a tad out of place when compared to the historic buildings exterior, as well the interior with beautiful architecture including exposed wood beam ceilings and red brick walls lined with 17th century artwork and decor. Dinner began with some rolls. There was nothing special about them - certainly not now that I am comparing them to the rolls served at Mooo. That's no fair! Ok, Mooo or no Mooo, the Chart House rolls really were not all that good. Thankfully, they were the only thing about our meal that wasn't good. I started with a glass of the Glass Mountain Chardonnary ($6). Yes I picked the cheapest glass of wine on the menu.
For our appetizer Adam chose the Steamed Mussels ($11.99) with shallots, garlic and sherry wine. I wanted to drink the sherry wine, but instead dipped my plump mussels two and three times through the flavorful broth.
I couldn't get enough. Not two but three slices of crusty bread served alongside were an excellent touch.
Main courses. Shall we? Adam got steak. I know, shocker! It was cooked perfectly to his liking (medium-rare - a little more on the rare side.) Prime Rib - Chart House Cut ($24.99) rubbed with aromatic herbs and spices, slow roasted, with au jus. It came with mashed potatoes. He loved it. After each bite he stated how good it was, and he cleaned his plate.
For me - Macadamia Crusted Mahi Mahi ($29.99) Warm peanut sauce with a hint of Frangelico, mango coulis, coconut ginger rice.The plate didn't have that initial wow factor. It was a good entree, but it wasn't a great entree. It didn't blow me away like the sherry wine mussels, put it that way.
I only finished half and I ate the other half for lunch the next day. The Mahi Mahi was well prepared. Tender flakes of fish with a mild sweetness graced my palate, enhanced by the tropical nuttiness of the macadamias and the smooth creamy peanut sauce. (Remember that time I made chicken with a macadamia nut crust and charred the macadamia's?!) They do a much better job here! There was no trace of anything bright, yellow and fruity on my plate so I was a tad confused about the mango coulis aspect of the dish?!
Basically, I'm not convinced I got $30 worth on that plate. $25 worth perhaps, but $30 worth is debatable. For the record, I noticed my neighbors both got this dish and their plate looked the same as mine.

Neighbors that were sitting here. We had a 9pm dinner reservation so I had a chance later on in the night to snap empty seat pictures. (As I usually do and then explain the emptiness so my readers don't think I'm eating at places where nobody goes.)

I was really inspired by the atmosphere of the historic "John Hancock Counting House" built around 1763. A little bit of a history lesson (paraphrased from a pamphlet we picked up.) As the city evolved the Long Wharf warehouses fell into neglect. In the 1960's the Boston Redevelopment Authority acquired the wharf with the aim of revitalization, encouraging private rehabilitation of the 4 story Gardiner building. Ongoing conservation has resulted in an innovative center for commerce and residence all preserving the look and feel of the wharf's early years. The Boston Chart House opened in July 1973, and prides itself on continuing to maintain this ideal.
We passed on dessert. Our bill was much cheaper as a result (and we went light on the booze tonight). Lucky me!

So here I am all making reservations and thinking we found a hidden gem on the waterfront. In hindsight, I'm wondering if I just found a local tourist trap? I say that in the nicest way possible, you know my love for historic Boston seafood restaurants. Though the Chart House differs in the sense that it's a new chain in an old building. Either way, I'm pleased to say I've discovered what the mysterious restaurant on the wharf is all about.
I don't feel the urge to return for a sit down meal, but to have a drink and some appetizers in the bar I would certainly visit the oldest building on Long Wharf again.

So we've got a modern steakhouse on Beacon Hill and a historic steak/seafood restaurant on the waterfront. I wonder where next year will take us.....

Where would you choose for your next birthday dinner?!